Flow metering and shut-off valve

ABSTRACT

A combined flow metering and shut-off valve having inner and outer valve parts which are axially movable relative to one another to effect relative axial movement of a metering valve plug on one part into and from a metering bore in the other part for regulating and blocking flow through the valve flow passage. The describing valve is an intravenous flow control valve in which the outer valve part is a plastic barrel containing the metering bore and the inner valve part is a plastic sleeve which carries the valve plug and is threaded to the barrel for relative axial movement of the barrel and sleeve by relative rotation of the same.

ilnited States Patent [1 1 Wiltse 1 Apr. 29, 1975 1 1 FLOW METERING ANDSHUT-OFF VALVE [76] Inventor: Harold L. Wiltse, 4322 Baldwin Park Ave.,Baldwin Park, Calif. 91706 [22] Filed: Oct. 1,1973

21 Appl. No.: 402,152

[52] US. Cl 251/205; 128/214 R; 251/D1G. 4; 251/351; 137/556 [51] Int.Cl. F16r 47/00 [58] Field of Search 251/205, DIG. 4, 351; 128/214 R, 214C, 214.2; 137/556 3,557,833 1/1971 Gilmont 251/205 X PrimaryI:'.\'aminer-Henry T. Klinksiek Attorney, Agent, or FirmBoniard 1. Brown[57] ABSTRACT A combined flow metering and shut-off valve having innerand outer valve parts which are axially movable relative to one anotherto effect relative axial movement of a metering valve plug on one partinto and from a metering bore in the other part for regulating andblocking flow through the valve flow passage. The describing valve is anintravenous flow control valve in which the outer valve part is aplastic barrel containing the metering bore and the inner valve part isa plastic sleeve which carries the valve plug and is threaded to thebarrel for relative axial movement of the barrel and sleeve by relativerotation of the same.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 61 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,771,878 11/1956 Folland Ct a1 128/214 R 2,980,392 4/1961 Greenwood251/205 X 3,072,147 1/1963 Allen St 211. 251/205 X 3,139,262 6/1964Morris ct a1. 251/205 'W/ .fr

FLOW METERING AND SHUT-OFF VALVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention This invention relates generally to flow control valvesand more particularly to a combined flow metering and shut-off valve.

2. Prior Art As will appear from the later description, the flow controlvalve of the invention may be used for a variety of flow controllingpurposes. However, the valve is intended primarily for use as anintravenous flow control valve and will be described in this connection.

Medical treatment of a patient often involves intravenous injection orfeeding of various solutions into the patients body, a typicalintravenous feeding system comprises a stand for supporting a containerfilled with an intravenous solution, a tube extending from the containerand fitted at its end with a needle for insertion into the patientsbody, and a valve in the tube for regulating the rate of flow of thesolution to the patient. Valves for this purpose must regulate thesolution flow with great precision, must be capable of effectivesterilization, and must be sealed against the entrance of foreign matterinto the solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a combined flowmetering and shut-off valve which satisfies the above and otherrequirements of an intravenous flow control valve and hence is ideallysuited to this purpose. As noted earlier. however, the valve may be usedfor other purposes.

The valve has inner and outer valve parts which are movable axiallyrelative to one another and provide a flow passage including an axialflow metering bore in one part. The other valve part includes a flowmetering valve plug which is movable into and from the metering bore byrelative axial movement of the valve parts to regulate or meter and tototally block flow through the passage. To this end, the valve plug hasa tapered portion providing a flow space between the plug and the wallof the metering bore. The taper of this portion is such that theeffective cross-sectional flow area of the flow space increases as theplug retracts from the bore and decreases as the plug enters the bore.When fully inserted into the bore, the valve plug completely closes thebore to block flow through the valve flow passage.

The particular valve described is an intravenous flow control valvewhose outer part is a tubular barrel containing the metering borebetween the barrel ends and whose inner part is a sleeve closed at oneend by a wall from which the valve plug projects. Entering one end ofthebarrel is an axial opening which opens to one end of the metering boreand receives the closed or walled end of the valve sleeve. The oppositeor outer ends of the barrel and sleeve provide coupling ends throughwhich the valve passage extends. The barrel and sleeve have matingthreads, such that relative rotation of the barrel and sleeve causestheir relative axial movement to effect movement of the valve plug intoand from the metering bore.

The valve plug is cylindrical and sized to fit closely in the meteringbore. Entering the circumference of the plug is at least one taperedlongitudinal groove or flow slot which opens through the tip of theplug. This flow slot provides a flow passage between the plug and thewall of the metering bore whose effective crosssectional areaprogressively increases as the plug retracts from the bore to increaseflow through the valve and progressively decreases to reduce flow as theplug enters the bore. The hose of the plug is sized to fit snugly in themetering bore to close the latter completely when the plug is fullyseated in the bore. The valve plug and the valve barrel may also haveconfronting valve seating faces which abut to block flow when the valveis closed by full insertion of the valve plug into the metering bore.

Preferably, the intravenous valve barrel and sleeve are constructed ofplastic and the valve is designed to be disposable. The valve barrel andsleeve are sealed to another, preferably by a sealing bead about thesleeve, to prevent leakage and entrance of foreign matter into the valvepassage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates an intravenousfeeding system embodying the present valve;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged axial section through the valve when closed;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 2 with the valve open;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary exploded perspective of the valve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates a typicalintravenous feeding system 1 for feeding a solution, such as a salinesolution, to a patient. The system includes a stand 10 from which hangsa container 12 filled with an intravenous solution. The container hangsupside down with its mouth lowermost. Secured to the lower mouth of thecontainer is a cap 14 with a depending coupling nipple 16. The presentflow metering and shut-off valve 18 is secured to the nipple. Extendingfrom the lower end of the valve is a tube 20 whose lower end is securedto an intravenous needle (not shown) for feeding the intravenoussolution to the patient. Valve 18 is adjustable to regulate and cut offthe solution flow.

Turning to FIGS. 2-6, valve 18 has inner and outer valve parts 22, 24which are axially adjustable relative to one another and provide a flowpassage 26 through the valve. One valve part, in this instance, theouter part 24 has an axial flow metering bore 28 which forms a portionof the valve passage 26. The other or inner valve part 22 has a flowmetering valve plug 30 which enters the bore 28 and is movable into andfrom the bore by relative axial movement of the valve parts to regulateand block flow through the valve passage. To this end, the valve plughas a tapered portion 32 which forms with the wall of the metering bore28 a flow passage 34 whose effective cross-sectional flow area increasesas the plug retracts from the bore and decreases as the plug enters thebore. The plug, when fully inserted into the bore, completely closes thebore.

Describing the valve 18 in greater detail, the outer valve part 24comprises a tubular valve barrel which contains the metering bore 28between the barrel ends.

Entering the normally upper end of the barrel is an axial opening 36whose lower end opens to the upper end of the metering bore 28. Thelower end of the barrel is reduced to form a coupling nipple 38containing a passage 40 which opens to the lower end of the meteringbore 28. About the upper end of the bore is an internal annular wallsurface 42 of the barrel.

The inner valve part 22 comprises a sleeve having a normally lower end44 which enters the upper barrel opening 36 and a normally uppercoupling end 46 which is enlarged to approximately the same outsidediameter as the upper end of the valve barrel 24. Extending axiallythrough the sleeve is a passage 48, the upper end of which is slightlyenlarged to receive with a friction fit the container cap nipple 16.Extending across the lower inner end of the valve sleeve 22 is an endwall 50 with ports 52 which communicate the sleeve passage 48 with thespace 54 between the wall and the inner barrel surface 42.

The flow metering valve plug 30 is formedintegrally with and projectsaxially from the under side of the sleeve wall 50. This plug has a lowercylindrical end 56 which fits closely but slidably within the meteringbore 28 and an enlarged annular shoulder 58 at the base of the plugfacing the inner barrel surface 42. The tapered portion 32 of the plugcomprises a tapered longitudinal groove or flow slot which enters thecircumference and opens through the lower tip end of the plug. This slotis tapered to increase in depth toward the tip of the plug. The upperend of the slot 32 terminates a distance from the valve plug shoulder 58to provide between the slot and shoulder a smooth cylindrical portion 60of the plug which is sized to fit snugly in and seal the metering bore28. The particular valve shown has two diametrically opposed taperedflow slots 32 in the valve plug 30.

The valve sleeve 22 and barrel 24 have mating threads 62 for impartingrelative axial movement to the sleeve and barrel when they are rotatedrelative to one another. A seal 64 is provided between the sleeve andbarrel to prevent fluid leakage from the valve passage 26 and entranceof foreign matter into the passage. In the particular valve shown, thevalve sleeve and barrel are constructed of a relatively rigid thoughyieldable plastic material and the seal 64 comprises an integral sealingbead about the lower end of the valve sleeve 22.

Valve 18 is closed by rotating the valve sleeve 22 and barrel 24relative to one another to fully insert the valve plug end 56 into themetering bore 28, as shown in FIG. 2. In this closed position, the baseportion 60 of the plug is located within and seals the bore, and theconfronting barrel and plug surfaces 42, 58, which provide confrontingvalve seating surfaces. abut to form an additional flow blocking sealclosing the valve passage 26. The valve is opened by rotating the sleeveand barrel in the opposite direction relative to one another to retractthe valve plug end 56 from the metering bore 28. This action elevatesthe upper ends of the-plug flow slots 33 above the barrel seatingsurface 42 to permit flow through the slots. It is evident that theeffective cross-sectional flow area of the slots, and hence flow throughthe slots, increases as the valve plug is retracted from the meteringbore and decreases as the plug enters the bore.

Preferably, the valve sleeve 22 and barrel 24 are externally knurled at66 to facilitate relative rotation of these parts. Also, the valve maybe provided with a scale 68 on one valve part and an index or reference70 on the other part for indicating flow rate through the valve.

The valve 18 is installed in the intravenous feeding system of FIG. 1 byinserting the container cap nipple 16 into the upper end of the valvesleeve passage 48 and fitting the upper end of the tube 20 over thelower coupling end 38 of the valve barrel 24. The valve may then beadjusted by rotation of the barrel to open and close the valve as wellas to regulate flow of solution by gravity from the container 12,through the valve, to the base 20.

While the valve has been described in connection with its use in anintravenous feeding system, it obviously may be used for other purposes.

The inventor claims:

1. A valve comprising outer and inner valve parts each comprising a onepiece molded plastic part,

said outer part comprising a tubular barrel having a relatively largediameter cylindrical portion at one end, a relatively small diameternipple at the other end, and an axial flow metering bore between saidends opening at one end to the interior of said eylindrieal portion andat the other end to an axial passage through said nipple,

said inner part comprising a sleeve having an axial flow metering plugat one end slidably fitting in said metering bore, a cylindricalcoupling portion at the other end, and an intermediate portion betweensaid sleeve ends having an axially presented transverse wall about saidplug, said cylindrical sleeve portion being threaded in said cylindricalbarrel portion, whereby said metering plug is adjustable axially in saidmetering bore by relative rotation of said parts,

said sleeve having a central passage opening at one end through saidopposite sleeve end and at the other end through ports in saidtransverse sleeve wall to the interior of said cylindrical barrelportion about said metering plug, and

said metering plug having at ieast one tapered axial flow passageopening laterally of said plug and endwise through the end of said plug,whereby axial adjustment of said metering plug regulates fluid flowthrough said metering bore.

2. A valve according to claim 1 wherein:

said barrel has a valve seat about one end of said metering bore, andsaid sleeve has a valve face about the base of said metering plugengageable with said valve seat.

1. A valve comprising outer and inner valve parts each comprising a one piece molded plastic part, said outer part comprising a tubular barrel having a relatively large diameter cylindrical portion at one end, a relatively small diameter nipple at the other end, and an axial flow metering bore between said ends opening at one end to the interior of said cylindrical portion and at the other end to an axial passage through said nipple, said inner part comprising a sleeve having an axial flow metering plug at one end slidably fitting in said metering bore, a cylindrical coupling portion at the other end, and an intermediate portion between said sleeve ends having an axially presented transverse wall about said plug, said cylindrical sleeve portion being threaded in said cylindrical barrel portion, whereby said metering plug is adjustable axially in said metering bore by relative rotation of said parts, said sleeve having a central passage opening at one end through said opposite sleeve end and at the other end through ports in said transverse sleeve wall to the interior of said cylindrical barrel portion about said metering plug, and said metering plug having at least one tapered axial flow passage opening laterally of said plug and endwise through the end of said plug, whereby axial adjustment of said metering plug regulates fluid flow through said metering bore.
 2. A valve according to claim 1 wherein: said barrel has a valve seat about one end of said metering bore, and said sleeve has a valve face about the base of said metering plug engageable with said valve seat. 